Do Odd Jobs This Summer to Make Money

At a recent gathering, I found myself sitting next to a man who worked for a building supply company. As we visited and shared thoughts about the present economy, he said that his place of employment had stopped hiring students for summer work, because so many family men needed jobs. "Unless," he said, "the student is willing to take on some of the really yucky jobs."

That made me stop and think. Why not? I wondered. I have certainly done my share of "yucky" jobs and was glad for the opportunity to earn a little money for school expenses. And just because you take a yucky job now that doesn't mean you won't graduate to something better later on.

When I was young, there was a man in our town who rode a bicycle with a small cart attached up and down the streets. His cart had a hand-lettered sign that read, "Hire Me for Odd Jobs" followed by his phone number.

Of course you would like a nice office job, or a cushy on-site job at a summer resort, but you may not be offered the job you were hoping for-or any job at all for that matter. Times are tough. Are you going to mope around in front of the TV set or computer all summer, hoping that Mom and Dad will come through with the money you need for school next fall, or are you going to get out there and find a solution to the problem?

Odd jobs aren't strange or weird jobs. Odd jobs are those jobs that occur sporadically. They may be available once, or many times, but not usually on a regular ongoing basis. Sometimes, an odd job is offered because the person who usually does the job gets behind and is willing to pay to have someone come in and help them catch up.

Odd jobs can be for a short or long period of time, boring or exciting, and simple or very difficult, but the endless variety makes this kind of work all the more interesting. Who knows? You may stumble into a gig that will interest you so much that you will decide to make a career of it. Interested? Then read on to see how you can turn yourself into an odd-jobber.

1. Make a list of jobs skills you already have.

Everyone has some skills so write them down. Are you good with children? Do you know how to wash windows, vacuum floors, or paint a fence? Do you have transportation so you can run errands? Could you teach basic computer skills, a musical instrument, sewing? Can you mow a lawn, pull weeds, plant flowers? Can you walk a dog, care for a cat while its owner goes on vacation, use a pooper scooper to clean a yard? Can you house sit? Do you know math or English well enough to tutor a child in those subjects?

The list could go on and on, and you may end up with a job where you will never use any of your skills, but write them down anyway. Knowing that you do have marketable skills will build your confidence and give you something to offer potential employers. Maybe they will see something on the list they have never thought of hiring someone to do and decide to take a chance on you.

2. Get some references.

Ask an adult who knows you and has some idea about how well you can perform a task if they would mind if you gave their name and phone number as a reference. They can tell a caller if you are an honest, reliable person, (I'm assuming that you are), and whether or not they think you can do the job in question, even if you haven't actually been employed by them.

Neighbors, teachers, Sunday school teachers, and Scout leaders are all good people to approach for references.

3. Advertise.

List some of your skills on a flyer and stick it up on the super market bulletin board. Be sure to list a phone number where you can be reached and mention that you can furnish references.

Take out an inexpensive classified ad in the local paper. Some communities have a Senior Citizen newspaper, and this is a great place to advertise as many senior citizens are no longer able to be as active in working around their homes as they once were.

Check a local radio station to see if they have a program where people can advertise for free. If they do, drop by with a card listing the message you want them to read over the air. It should include the same information you put in your newspaper ad.

Knock on doors around your neighborhood and ask if they have odd jobs you can do. Many people prefer to hire someone they know rather than a complete stranger.

4. Check out employment agencies and local job boards.

Take your job hunt seriously. You can't sit back and expect a job to fall into your lap. Get your name out there and spend some time putting applications in wherever there is the slightest chance of a job opening up.

If your town has one, a temp agency is a good place to start. They often have jobs as short as a few hours or as long as several weeks. They will take your application and keep it on file so they can notify you if an opening arises that fits your qualifications.

Local businesses, such as hospitals, schools, and restaurants often have online websites where you can check new openings daily.

Remind your friends that you are looking for work. If they are working, they can let you know if a fellow employee quits or is planning to quit. Watch for help wanted signs as you visit different businesses around town.

Check those same super-market bulletin boards where you posted your flyers for other flyers put up by possible employers. It is not at all uncommon for people to advertise for someone to do yard work in this way.

5. Be willing to take any reasonable job offer.

When jobs are hard to find, show that you are willing to work hard at whatever job you are offered. When you finish a job, collect a reference from that employer to use in finding the next job. Before you know it, you will have people standing in line to hire the "Odd Jobber," and may end up having to hire some other odd-jobbers to help you.

The economy has slumped before, and most likely, it will slump again. Finding a job during those times is difficult, but not impossible. If you are one of those who are not afraid to put yourself out to do jobs other people can't or don't want to do, you can sail through this present slump with money in your pocket and lots of new job experiences to add to your resume.